Methods and systems that selectively permit changes to a cryptographic hardware unit's state
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a hardware unit;
at least one computer coupled to the hardware unit, the at least one computer having software agents that utilize a function provided by the hardware unit; and
a consensus module coupled to the hardware unit and the at least one computer, the consensus module is configured to detect an event that changes a state of the hardware unit, notify the software agents of the event before the state changes, and selectively permit the state to change based on responses from the software agents.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a hardware unit and a plurality of software agents that couple to and utilize at least one function of the hardware unit. The system further comprises a consensus module coupled to the hardware unit and the software agents. The consensus module is configured to detect an event that changes a state of the hardware unit, notify the software agents of the event before the state changes and selectively permit the state to change based on responses from the software agents.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising:
-
a hardware unit; at least one computer coupled to the hardware unit, the at least one computer having software agents that utilize a function provided by the hardware unit; and a consensus module coupled to the hardware unit and the at least one computer, the consensus module is configured to detect an event that changes a state of the hardware unit, notify the software agents of the event before the state changes, and selectively permit the state to change based on responses from the software agents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
querying, by a computer, a plurality of software agents regarding an event that changes an operational state of a cryptographic hardware unit; and selectively permitting, by the computer, changes to the operational state of the cryptographic hardware unit based on responses from the software agents. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A storage medium having computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
-
query a plurality of software agents regarding an event that changes an operational state of a cryptographic hardware unit; and selectively permit changes to the operational state of the cryptographic hardware unit based on responses from the software agents. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system, comprising:
-
means for notifying a plurality of software agents regarding an event that changes an operational state of a cryptographic hardware unit; and means for selectively permitting changes to the operational state of the cryptographic hardware unit based on responses from the software agents. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A system, comprising:
-
a cryptographic hardware unit; at least one computer coupled to the hardware unit, the at least one computer having software agents that utilize a function provided by the hardware unit; and a consensus module coupled to the hardware unit and the at least one computer, wherein the consensus module is configured to detect occurrences of commands that disable the cryptographic hardware unit and commands that enable the cryptographic hardware unit, notify the software agents of each command before the cryptographic hardware unit changes its state, and selectively permit the state of the cryptographic hardware unit to change based on responses from the software agents.
-
Specification